By John W. Moore Few places in Jerusalem put your feet in the actual place where Jesus once stood, as the southern steps do. Nearly every time I visit, I see Christian groups doing the same thing. People slow down. They look at their feet. Someone opens a Bible to the Psalms of Ascent and reads aloud. For a few quiet minutes, a modern tour group reenacts what many believe happened some two thousand years ago, as Jewish worshippers ascended these steps on their way to the inne

James Barclay was a 19th-century American missionary and physician who discovered Barclay's Gate, one of the original monumental entrances to the Second Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This discovery provides vital archaeological and historical proof of the physical Jerusalem during the life and times of Jesus.

Was it even possible? According to the book of Acts, three thousand were baptized in Jerusalem in just one day. And yet, baptisteries did not exist during the time of Jesus. Or…did they? Naturally, the New Testament does not require a specially constructed baptistery to fulfill the command to be baptized. But in Jerusalem, a place high in elevation and so far away from a river, how was it possible for so many to be immersed? The answer: in the many mikva’ot (Jewish ritual bat

Sitting at the opening of a 2,700 year-old tomb near Jerusalem, Dr. Gabriel Barkay reflected upon one of the world's most celebrated discoveries: “I couldn’t bear the sight of this boy anymore." He was remembering how Nathan had continuously tugged at the back of his shirttail as he directed a major archaeological dig southwest of Jerusalem. He was “always asking silly questions, but so it happens,” as Barkay continued, “he made one of the most important discoveries in my l

BY JOHN W. MOORE The headliner for the Assyrian Post of 701 B.C. reads “Lachish Destroyed, Jerusalem Spared.” Of course, the Assyrian Post is fictional and newspapers didn’t exist in Biblical times—or did they? Between 700-681 BC an Assyrian “newspaper” did in fact report on the famed military exploits of Sennacherib and his conquest of the Levant, including Judah. The campaign included attacks against Lachish, Libnah, and Jerusalem as described in the Bible (2 Kings. 18;

Dear Jackson, You sure remind me of your dad. You notice things other people miss. The other day you were studying that Apologetics Press Bible action card and noticed Damaris seated in a large outdoor theater, and you asked, “How did they hear without a microphone?” Greek and Roman Theater at Ephesus (Theater Photo taken by Ya Ya) That’s a mighty good question. Most folks don’t think about things like that. But you do. She was indeed seated a long way from the front. Did you

Emperor Hadrian - Photo Taken at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum For those hurt by death’s menacing power, this image will mean a lot to you. In a vivid display of dominion and power, Emperor Hadrian (76-138 A.D.) stands as a victorious warrior over a menacing enemy of Rome. Variously interpreted as either a Dacian warrior or a Jewish Zealot from the Bar-Kokhba revolt, the trampled subject is shown in an obvious display of subjugation and defeat. Discovered in 1987, the s

Located today at Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey, this 65-foot granite obelisk dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun-Ra once stood at a temple in Karnak, Egypt. Commissioned by Thutmose III to commemorate his victorious military campaign over the Mitanni, this well-known Egyptian Pharaoh reigned from approximately 1504-1450 BC. While the Bible does not reveal his name, it seems almost certain that it was Thutmose III who died prior to Moses’ return to Egypt following his

Southwestern corner of the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount In 1998 it was my first time to see it. A massive wall made of limestone towered above me with the remains of a wide ancient street at its base. I was standing at the southwestern corner of Jerusalem's famed Temple Mount not knowing then of its significance and place in Bible prophecy. Today, however, I am amazed and enthralled with not only the importance of this ancient wall and street, but also by the many fascinating

The Christians in the first century were faced with a choice. Who would they claim as Lord? Was it lord Caesar (kyrios Caesar) bringing his

Exploring the Burial Site of King Herod "the Great" by John W. Moore all photo rights reserved by Bible Passages but can be used with permission The Herodium - Herod's Burial Site and Fortress Palace near Bethlehem When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, Herod the Great was ruling Judea under the authority of Rome. During his nearly 40-year reign he commissioned the construction of numerous civic buildings, public works projects, religious temples, and has been given the m

From the Iron Age Period a Stone manger discovered at Megiddo in Israel Away in a Manger, But Not in a Barn” is part of a title in an excellent article written by Gary Byers who argues that Jesus was born on the lower level of a typical Palestinian home of the first century. He notes that “baby Jesus [was] placed in a manger on the ground floor of David’s ancestral home in Bethlehem because the upstairs ‘guest room’ was already full” (BAR, Nov. 2021). Thus, the typical portr

At left - Caesar Augustus in his role as Emperor: At Right the veiled Cesar Augustus in his role as Pontiff Maximus (photos taken at the Vatican Museum and the National Archaeological Museum in Rome) Gender distinction, religious observance, and social equality were some of the hot button topics under discussion in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. In particular, the question of whether to cover your head during the worship assembly was addressed. Why would the apostle

IMAGE INSIGHTS - It is hot, rugged, and home to a some of the rock badgers and wild goats of Israel. With its thousands of small caves and fissures it is an ideal location for finding refuge and escape from an enemy or the heat of the desert sun. This 56 by 12-mile-long barren and inhospitable land is wedged between the Dead Sea and the mountains of Judea and was the setting for several important events of scripture. In this barren location of Judah's territorial allotment,

IMAGE INSIGHTS (Qumran and Isaiah 40:8): Located near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, the Wadi Qumran is the celebrated site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Essene community of the Jews. Nearly 1,000 manuscripts of the biblical text (and others) were represented in the thousands of fragments and scrolls written on parchment and papyrus. Discovered in a series of caves between 1947 and 1956, the Dead Sea Scrolls are arguably the most important discover

IMAGE INSIGHTS (Arch of Titus and 2 Corinthians 2:14): The Arch of Titus with its depiction of the Jewish menorah and table of showbread reminds us of the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jesus in Matthew 24. Longing to throw-off Roman hegemony which had been in place in Israel since 63 BC, the Jews revolted and fought bitterly against the armies who had occupied their land. Vespasian and Titus, of the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Roman empire from AD 69-96, reconquered m

On the slope of Mount Parnassus the temple of Apollo sits with a mysterious aura just longing to confess its ancient secrets. In the centuries leading up to the time of Christ, this sanctuary at Delphi, Greece was alive with the sounds of sacred activity and toxic induced religious utterances emanating from the famed and respected oracles called sybils. Today, only the chatter of curious visitors and an occasional eerie sound of the wind can be heard swirling through the six

By John W. Moore It might be unfamiliar. It might even sound to us like one of those peculiar literary devices discussed in a course on biblical hermeneutics (the science of interpretation). Even pronouncing it can be challenging, but verisimilitude is a helpful term used in such disciplines as philosophy, literature, and law. It is also important to biblical archaeologists as I came to observe in our production of Go Now to Shiloh, when Dr. Scott Stripling spoke of it duri

By John W. Moore When visitors arrive to the old city of Jerusalem, they are met by a cacophony of sounds and an array of odors and fragrances. They also encounter the hustle and bustle of residents moving through the crowded streets on their way to the market, or perhaps to their favorite restaurant or place of residence.In the northern section of the Muslim and Christian quarters, visitors and residents alike may also find themselves having to navigate a line of Christian p

by John W. Moore When I first gazed upon what was discovered at Tel el-Qadi in the spring of 1998 my fellow students and I were in awe of what seemed to be testimony to the historicity and reliability of the biblical text. Located at the base of Mount Hermon in the northern territory of Israel, this historic place is home to some of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Beside the discovery of the well-known Tel-Dan stela of the 9th century B.C